Access to MIX is open to all ISPs that accept and subscribe the "Memorandum of Understanding" [Ref. MIX-101] and all its annexes [Ref. MIX-104; MIX-105; MIX-107]. The charging scheme for Layer 3 peering service (base service) is described here.

Additional services, quoted separately, are also available to MIX members.

The base service includes:

1. allocation space up to 1/3 of standard 19'' rack for peering devices;
   

2. 1 port on the MIX peering LAN (the port type depends on the nominal bandwidth declared by the ISP);
   
3. 1 IPv4 and 1 IPv6 addresses for the interface connected to the MIX peering LAN;
   
4. if the peering devices are installed inside the MIX data center:
   
   • out-of-band access for remote management;
   • rack supply and precabling from the rack to the MIX devices;
   • 2 power plugs (220 V) on redundant power supply bars;

5. if the peering devices are installed outside the MIX data center:

   • rack supply for optical boxes installation;
   • precabling from the rack to the MIX devices;
6. double UPS system and generator set for electrical continuity services;

7. first level assistance for failure management and equipment installation;

8. possibility of H24 access to MIX data center for extraordinary and / or scheduled maintenance operations;

the following accessory services are also available at MIX:

• direct peering with "i.root-servers.net" replica;
• direct peering with "k.root-servers.net" replica;
• direct advertisement of secondary ccTLDs name-servers hosted at MIX;
• subscription to the technical mailing list of MIX customers;
• subscription to the MIX customers list with the associated nominal bandwidth;
• addition to the MIX customers list in the Euro-IX database;
• access to MIX members area.

The annual fee does not include connection costs between peering routers and ISPs backbones.

Fees for the base service

• an annual membership fee of €. 850,00 (€. 425,00 if the member joins after July 1^st ) for the members joined after January 1^st 2006 or connected to MIX from more than 10 years;

• an annual fee, based on the value of the nominal bandwidth (NB) declared by each ISP, calculated as follows:

Examples:

NB=8Mb        annual fee = c1*8
NB=100Mb     annual fee = c1*16 + c2* (100-16)

Note: values in the "nominal bandwidth" column are to be intended as "up to": for instance, 15Mb of usage are associated to 16Mb of nominal bandwidth.

The Nominal Bandwidth

The Nominal Bandwidth is the bandwidth that an ISP intends to use for the peering traffic on the MIX LAN.

The nominal bandwidth must not be greater than the geographical circuit speed used for WAN connection to the MIX and represents the value that can be published  (by MIX and by the ISP) as the connection speed between MIX and the ISP.

The nominal bandwidth is declared by the ISP upon connection to MIX and can be upgraded during the contract period depending on the actual bandwidth usage, as described in "The balance procedure"; the downgrade is allowed only on renewal.

The balance procedure

The MIX uses monitoring tools for each interface connected to its LAN (each ISP can have visibility of its own graphics as well as graphics of all other members using the right password to access the members area).

Every month the monitoring system data are processed through the algorithm described later and:

• if the actual bandwidth usage is less or equal to the nominal bandwidth, there are no actions;

• if the actual bandwidth usage is greater than the nominal bandwidth:

Note: the third month has to be intended as a deadline for making the payment but, even if during this month the usage falls back to the nominal value, from the administrative point of view what has been calculated at the end of the second month must be taken into consideration.

Each ISP, of course, considering its own needs, can request an upgrade of the nominal bandwidth without waiting for the MIX balance procedure.

Please remember that for downgrading the nominal value, you have to wait for the contract renewal time.